Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Gayle had issues at Virginia Tech with a dislocated shoulder, but the Titans felt he could practice and play with a harness, and wanted to let him try and make it through the season.

But after Gayle had problems with the shoulder this offseason, it was decided he should have surgery.

Whisenhunt said it's unclear if Gayle, who had 22 sacks in four college seasons, will be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list for the start of training camp next month or go on season-ending Injured Reserve.

"He was a young guy who we felt as an outside rusher could potentially get to compete at that spot,'' Whisenhunt said. "But we didn't get to see a lot of him."